New Beta Version questions

kyfarmer · Rookie Member Joined: Sep 23, 2006 Posts: 4

I just discovered and downloaded the beta version the other day You have really hit the nail on the head this time. Love it so far. I notice that it will expire on the 27th. Will the final version be available to download at thet time?

Also is there is there a way to insert other calibers into the caliber list? I would like to like .22LR in order to use the program to inventory all my firearms

Thanks again for the best reloading software I've found anywhere.

kyfarmer

st_albert · Member Joined: May 31, 2006 Posts: 38

According to the help file, you should be able to edit the calibers.slk database file using any common spreadsheet program. Notes on the format of the file are shown when the file is loaded into the spreadsheet.

Be careful, howerver! Back up the file (e.g. "copy calibers.slk calibers.slk.bak" ) before starting. When I tried this with OpenOfficeOrg's spreadsheet, it worked OK but saved the file to a "slightly" different .slk format (specifically, it supplied both X and Y coordinates for every cell, whereas Pointblank expects ONLY X coordinates for columns 2 ... n in a given row. The resulting file would not load.

I'm guessing Microsoft Excel would work fine, though I have not been curious enough to spend the $$$ to find out.

If you're brave, and in a hacking mood, you can edit the calibers.slk file with a text editor (like notepad) and figure out the raw format, and add your new calibers to the end. They get sorted OK when pointblank loads.

Also, note that if you modify the database, it may later get replaced by the update function. Mine did. Again, back it up.

Looking in the pointblank directory, it appears that there's a file called "Example_calibers_user.slk" which seems to be intended as a way to add additional caliber data. But it doesn't seem to load automatically, so I don't know how to activate it.

So, yes, there's a way to add more calibers (and more bullets as well) but at the moment it isn't easy. Or else I'm missing something obvious again.

PaulS · Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2009 8:51 pm Post subject: Re: New Beta Version questions

I did it in MS Office without a hitch.....
It is always a good idea to back up the original but if you do mess it up all you have to do is delete it and run PBpatch again.

st_albert · Member Joined: May 31, 2006 Posts: 38

OK, good to know that. I may try to install an ancient but paid for version of Office '97 and see what it will do.

On further investigation it seems that both OpenOfficeOrg and Pointblank's idea of the SYLK format differ from the published standard (via wikipedia). Presumablly, Microsoft's version works. I'll check it out

Thanks for the feedback. And, Happy New Year, y'all!

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah

kyfarmer wrote:

I just discovered and downloaded the beta version the other day You have really hit the nail on the head this time. Love it so far.

Thanks, it improves alot of things... I know a few people have issues with it but hopefully as they acclimate to it, they will enjoy it more.

Quote::

I notice that it will expire on the 27th. Will the final version be available to download at thet time?

I want the beta versions to expire, forcing people to use the latest versions. I will try to keep ahead of expired versions by releasing newer versions. The final version will not have a expiration date.

Quote::

Also is there is there a way to insert other calibers into the caliber list? I would like to like .22LR in order to use the program to inventory all my firearms

The problem with editing your own data is it will get overwritten the next time the patcher updates. What I recommend is to let me know if we are missing any calibers and I can add them to the base calibers list, then everyone can get the most comprehensive list. We arent missing a ton of calibers so hopefully this wont hold people back too much to get components / calibers added.

-DallanC

POP!! · Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2009 6:26 pm Post subject: Re: New Beta Version questions

Will any of your downloads work for a Dell Axim X50 PDA?

Thank you

PaulS · Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2009 10:22 pm Post subject: Re: New Beta Version questions

Dallan,
The Hodgdon powder database is missing H4895. I have added it to mine and made a backup copy so i can just over-write the new ones as I download the new info.
You have done a great job - Thanks.

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah

I will add H4895 to the powders list.

Also, for custom data please see this thread:

www.huntingnut.com/ind...pic&t=6348

-DallanC

POP!! · Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 3:11 pm Post subject: Re: New Beta Version questions

Will any of your downloads work for a Dell Axim X50 PDA?

Thank you

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah

POP!! wrote:

Will any of your downloads work for a Dell Axim X50 PDA?

Thank you

I'm not familiar with that model. PointBlank runs on a Windows OS that has .NET support.

Try it and see I guess... although I think the biggest problem is going to be screen resolutions issues.

-DallanC

PaulS · Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 9:52 pm Post subject: Re: New Beta Version questions

Dallan,
I must have missed the USER defined files on my read through - Thanks for pointing out. That will resolve most issues with having to re-copy the files in the future.

I do have one request but I leave it up to you as it is your software:
In the MISC. section you have an energy calculator that doubles the data on the data in the ballistics table. I wonder if you could include an "Optimum Game Weight" calculator either in place of or in addition to what you have now. The formula is very easy; Energy x Momentum / 212 or
((Vel x Vel x Bullet weight / 255120) x (Vel x Bullet Weight / 7000)) / 212
This is the formula That I have used for a long time to determine whether a load is capable of use for certain size animals. It would make my life easier but as I said it is your software.

Thanks for listening,
Paul

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 10:32 pm Post subject: Re: New Beta Version questions

Paul, I'm not sure of your formula for OGW. The one I've seen is:

(Velocity^3) X (bullet weight ^2) X (1.5 X 10^-12) = OGW

For my .35 Whelen load with a 200 grain bullet at 2600 ft/sec the formula I used gives me an OGW of about 1055 lbs, which seem reasonable.

If I use KE X momentum /212 I get about 33 lbs.

KE = bullet weight X velocity^2 / 450400

Momentum = velocity X mass
Mass = bullet weight / 7000 / 32.2

Maybe I'm missing something here.

PaulS · Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2009 3:18 am Post subject: Re: New Beta Version questions

You are doing extra calculations. My formula is a bit different from the actual OGW formula but gives essentially the same number as a result. Mine is my own - as calculated from years of testing bullet impacts in a Fackler box and real world testing on live game animals (which although important is less valuable because of variations in impact area and other external things that are hard to get all the data on.)
I could write out the entire formula but it is easier to work with the "distilled version" when using a computer. Lots of G forces and inertial reductions in the actual formula but if you reduce it to the minimum calculation it comes out as Energy x Mom ft.lbs. / 212
When you divide the ft.lb. momentum by G you get slugs - don't make that last division and it would be 1062 (approx)